Selling Sex and Mental Health Concerns

Abstract

This book reviews empirical literature on a number of psychological concepts related to selling sex. The goals of the book and the boundaries of what is included can be found in Chap. 1. In brief, this book focuses on private, in-person, consensual sex acts exchanged between a cisgender woman and a paying customer. Research on men, minors, and victims of sex trafficking are deliberately excluded, unless otherwise noted. The review favors peer-reviewed sources of research and is most inclusive of comparative studies. Qualitative findings are used illustratively. There tends to be a social perception that selling sex is associated with mental health problems, but is this true or a myth? Does it depend on which mental health characteristics are considered? Does it change based on the setting or context of selling sex? Chapter 4 explores when, how, and to what extent mental health symptoms are associated with selling sex. We start by considering studies that have examined general or combined indicators of mental health, and then explore findings per mental health condition, including posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, suicidality, dissociative disorders, somatic symptom disorder, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders.